Testimonials

Case Studies

“In my early seventies I found myself overweight, sluggish, and with more aches and pains than I know to be healthy. My quality of life was less than I wanted it to be, so I knew I had to do something other than the previous weight-loss diets that just resulted in losing the same 15 pounds over and over again. When Zach told me about the High Performance Aging program, I had to try it. The combination of coaching, nutrition mindfulness, and exercise encouraged me to lose 18 pounds over a six-week period and to live a much more pain-free life. Zach is a terrific coach and trainer. He has a very positive attitude and enormous expertise. Movement therapy consists of stretching and flexing exercises presented in a clear manner and a small class setting, permitting individualized attention. If you are at a point in your life when you know that you need to do something to improve your quality of life, I highly recommend the HPA program. You won’t be disappointed!” -- John Pfaff, Age 73

“Before I joined the High Performance Aging program, I was suffering from years of pain in my neck and right shoulder and wasn’t happy about my weight. I was feeling discouraged and out of tune with my body. I knew it was time to get a fresh start on living healthier and strengthening my mind-body connection. I really loved that Zach was offering a program with fitness and nutrition, equally valued. He helped with my pain by studying how I moved, deciding which side of my body was dominate, and how I wasn't using parts of my body properly. His knowledge of the body and nutrition was invaluable as well. Our weekly check-ins proved to be supportive in a surprising and authentic way.

I learned to be aware of the proper way to move throughout the day in order to help correct the pain I was having. Just as important for my goals, I was challenged to eat in a way that was cleaner, healthier, and sustainable. After six weeks, I have lost weight, my clothes fit better, and I have less pain. While some of my issues are still a work in progress, I can whole-heatedly exclaim that I am feeling better about my future and that I have the foundation to move forward to a healthier life. I definitely recommend the HPA program to anyone suffering with pain, balance, and weight issues. It’s also great for people that need a healthy paradigm shift!” -- Kim Holt, Age 50

“At 71 years of age and dealing with osteoarthritis for the past 30 years, I felt my quality of life slipping away. Weight gain, weakening muscle mass, and general pain were making it difficult to stay healthy. The High Performance Aging program which Zach designed is the best way I have found to combine exercise and nutrition awareness in a system which shows results more quickly than anything else I have tried. The exercises are presented in a safe and understanding class setting which are carefully focused on my particular weaknesses, and in just six weeks, I can move much more flexibly and am nearly pain-free. Being able to share my challenges and successes with my classmates gives me a dedication to the work which struggling alone at home never did.

The nutrition program resulted in a 14-pound weight loss for me over six weeks and a much more satisfying mealtime experience. I sense that the syndrome of losing and then gaining it back is finally giving way to a healthier diet which will be sustainable over time. Zach is a caring and understanding trainer with huge expertise, and his ‘Yes, you can!’ approach will get you back on the road to health and happiness even if you were afraid you might have lost your last chance. High Performance Aging has been that kind of miracle for me!” -- David Dorn, Age 71

What to Expect When You Train With Us

Guidance by a Functional Aging Specialist who understands your body

Safe and effective blend of functional strength, balance, agility, coordination and brain health movements

Small group training sessions personalized for your unique needs and goals

A relaxed, fun and supportive community of active, mature adults

Testimonials

“I hurt my right knee over 20 years ago and have never moved as well since then as a result. Zach helped me relearn how to walk, move and exercise so that I can keep my knee healthy and avoid surgery down the road. After just a few weeks in their program, I gained tremendous confidence in my knee and was able to do movements I never thought I could do again. I’ve gotten more flexible in my back and hips that were always tight from trying to protect the old injury. He also helped me to improve my posture and balance throughout my body in ways that no other trainers have ever been able to do for me. I highly recommend HPA to anyone who wants to learn how to improve flexibility and strength without hurting yourself!” -- Steve Miller, Age 63

“I used to be very active and fit. However, over the last five years, I’ve struggled with flare-ups of chronic pain in my neck, back, right hip and right knee. I finally stopped exercising after a bad case of sciatica that lasted for months. At times, I just hoped to be able to do the normal activities of daily living again without making things worse. I decided to join the High Performance Aging Fitness Program because, at my age, I knew I needed to improve my flexibility, strength and cardio fitness and didn’t know how to do that without causing something to flare up.

This program is helping me understand how to align, breath, move and build my core strength properly. It gives me the accountability that I need to stay consistent in my approach and is helping me rebuild my confidence and fitness at the same time. Zach understands how the body works, how to assess issues of pain and tension, and offers me a personal training experience in a group setting, which I enjoy. As someone who has been in and out of the healthcare system for years, Zach’s knowledge of the body and his care, commitment and compassion for my individual needs are beyond anything I’ve ever experienced. He’s always looking out for my best interests each step the way. I highly recommend the HPA program to anyone who is worried about aging and wants to regain strength but may have some body issues. Zach won’t waste your time.” -- William Jones, Age 56

“I agree with all my patients and friends who I have referred to Zach Comer- that he is the best! When I injured my back about 3 years ago and couldn’t get relief with the “usual” meds, heat, ice and trainer at the gym, a friend told me Zach was an “expert” in relieving pain. I was surprised at the time he spent listening to my specific injury and previous medical history. He knew just what to find out about, because he soon knew how much more was involved in producing the pain. I was amazed how much relief I felt. Then some sessions followed to improve my “alignment” and a host of other tight muscles and postural abnormalities I had developed.

As a physician, I am grateful for the dependable skills he has used to help my patients solve their pain, muscle and joint problems. Many of those I’ve referred to him have become permanent clients. Zach is the kind of person who wants to do everything he does the best it can be done. And he’s an incredibly nice guy!” - Dr. Lucian Rice, M.D., Biltmore Medical Associates

“I have dealt with chronic neck pain due to a degenerative fusion of the C5-6 since the beginning of 2005. I simply woke up one morning with severe pain in the lower area of my neck, and it continued for years. An MRI made it clear that my neck was more "straight" than curved as need be, and there was a fusion in the C5-6 spinal area. I was determined to find ways of a more holistic approach to keep the pain level at bay verses opting for surgery. It ended up being a hit and miss combination through the years with daily stretching, getting regular massages and using an inversion table. All of these things did help bring the pain level down to some degree at times, but not enough to accomplish many physical tasks in life that I needed and desired to do.

I decided to try the "High Performance Aging Fitness" program with Zach Comer. We worked on correct posture positions and deep breathing techniques, which ended up being crucial for me. It didn't take long to realize that I had been taught the exact opposite way concerning body posture as a young person, therefore keeping myself in a vulnerable posture position which ended up causing me years of unnecessary pain. I was astounded when taking the HPA classes, after learning how to correct my body posture and use deep breathing techniques, my neck pain, and the arm back pain that often accompanied it, went completely away. Once the pain was gone, I realized how much it had been wiping out my energy. Now I wake up earlier, yet feel more rested, and no longer need an afternoon nap just to get through the day. I am still amazed, and extremely grateful for this wonderful program because it has done more for me than anything I had tried in the past!” – Regina Loveday, Age 56

“I set out with a goal to be in the best shape of my life when I turned 50. I started to have some discomfort in my lower back which eventually brought me almost to a complete stop of any physical activity. Zach was recommended to me by a family member and my physician.

He took me through a complete rebuilding of my posture, my gait, and various strengthening and stretching exercises to build up the smaller muscles that were not being activated due to overcompensation of large muscles. To say Zach has helped me is an understatement. He has empowered me to train my brain to understand my body by knowing what it feels like to have everything in the proper postural alignment, whether I am exercising, walking, or simply standing. I am back to 100% in my daily training routine with no restrictions and I continue to see Zach very other week for maintenance and to help me to continue to stay in the best shape of my life. My only regret was that I didn’t see Zach sooner!” – Will Gay, Age 51

“After a decade of no regular exercise, two large pregnancies with one C-section and one VBAC, I wasn’t sure if a strong body was something I’d ever have again. The couple of attempts I’d made after my pregnancies soon stopped after I hurt myself, but the HPA Fitness program sounded different and like it offered the strongest possibility of recovery. I’m very encouraged after one month to feel my body restructure, my posture correct, and key muscles for movement wake up and start to be used again. With this well thought out program, it leaves no room for injury or discouragement and every participant experiences key improvements for their bodies’ with the benefits of group support. I finally see a path to a body that can sustain intense exercise and long days of physical activity with my children and still feel great at the end of the day. You will not find anyone with a better expertise than Zach to help you reclaim your life.”-- Karen Svites, Age 42

“I came to see Zach because of pain in my hips, hamstrings, and lower back. I am a garden designer and landscaper, and I was becoming concerned that pain and inflexibility would soon stand between me and the work I love so much. I had heard great things about Zach, but I didn't realize how much coming to see him would change my relationship with my body. He taught me how to slightly alter the way I stand, walk, sit, and work so that my body is in alignment, the muscles supporting the skeleton without having to strain.

Over time, these small alterations have been quite literally life-changing. I used to think that pain was just a part of getting older, particularly in my line of work. Now, not only am I no longer grouchy and tired at the end of the day from pain, I feel empowered and believe I can do something about how I feel. I understand and work with the structure of my body more, and I move more fluidly than I have in years. I am working with my body to feel better, instead of living with discomfort and pain. All of this makes me feel stronger, more attractive, more empowered, and much more confident about my body.” - Emily McDaniel

“I would recommend Zach to anyone interested in staying functional as they age, whether they have a specific pain issue or just want to improve their overall health and fitness. As we get older, we have a lifetime of injuries, bad habits, and aging changes that can affect our ability to live the way we want to. In my case, I have chronic back pain from years of sports, house and yard projects and work-related lifting. I wanted to avoid medications and worsening symptoms to ensure I would be able to live actively into my old age. Zach completed a thorough functional exam and identified abnormalities in my left ankle and hip function that likely developed after my ankle fracture and MCL tear. Then he developed a strength and flexibility plan specific to my issues to help me correct those abnormalities, along with he ways to correct and eliminate some of the key underlying causes of pain, especially my postural and ergonomic issues.” -- Sherry Goar, MSN, Family Nurse Practitioner- Board Certified

“Now in my fifties, I overdid it playing in the adult soccer league and strained my Achilles to the point where I couldn’t play anymore. Zach helped me fix the cause and not the symptom. Like a golfer learns a new swing, or a basketball player changes the mechanics of their jump shot, Zach taught me a new way to walk. It was awkward at times (I know how to walk dammit), but the results were amazing. All the strain was off my Achilles and my entire back loosened up as well. I’ve completely recovered from what must have been severe Achilles tendonitis and walk with complete comfort.” – Bennett King

“My balance has improved, my hip, back and shoulder pain have reduced, and I can tell I’m stronger in the "right" muscle groups. As I’ve changed from the old habits for standing, sitting and walking and become more aligned my energy feels renewed. I appreciate that the techniques don't require lots of dedicated time and that I can easily incorporate them into my daily routine. Zach is an outstanding teacher. The program gave me a solid foundation for understanding how the body works. It’s eloquently designed and I know it will help many.” - Patty Mack

“I have been seeing Zach Comer since I was referred by my physical therapist after a major mountain bike accident. He has helped me get over the hump with remaining stiffness, scarring and limited range of motion. I am now nearly back to my baseline, which I never thought I’d be able to say. I trust Zach, and highly recommend him to others and refer my patients to him as well.” - Dr. Stephanie Gillis, M.D.

“Zach Comer is an amazing fund of knowledge. He is an outstanding professional. He is caring and provides consistently excellent services for pain relief.” – Dr. Kathy Robinson, M.D.